Sony BMG Confirms Silly Set-Up for DRM-free D/Ls

Sony has confirmed what was rumored last week: DRM-free downloads are coming. The silly part is you have to go to a retail brick-and-mortar store first.

The No. 2 record company after Universal Music will sell plastic cards, called Platinum MusicPass, for individual albums for a suggested price of $12.99. Buyers enter a code from the card at new Sony BMG site MusicPass.com to download that card's album.

Best Buy, Target and Fred's stores will be first to sell them. By Jan. 31, they'll be in Winn-Dixie, Coconuts, FYE, Spec's and Wherehouse. Like gift cards, MusicPass cards are activated at the store.